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Alcoholism Treatment: A Ten‐Year Follow‐Up Study
Author(s) -
Cross Gerald M.,
Morgan Charles W.,
Mooney Al J.,
Martin Carolyn A.,
Rafter John A.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1990.tb00465.x
Subject(s) - psychosocial , abstinence , medicine , regimen , complete remission , psychiatry , pediatrics , chemotherapy
Two hundred male and female patients, selected at random from all patients admitted to an inpatient alcoholism treatment facility in 1973–1974, were surveyed 10 years following treatment. Response rate was 80%, and a validity check was done. Of the 158 usable responses, 61% reported complete or stable remission of their alcoholism for at least 3 years prior to the survey and 84% reported stable psychosocial status. Successful outcome was possible regardless of severity of drinking history or psychosocial status. Seventy‐six percent (76%) of those still alive at follow‐up reported remission; at most, 23% of the deceased were reported in remission prior to death. Involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) predicted abstinence, suggesting successful outcome for patients who undergo a treatment regimen, which bridges patients into AA involvement. Of those respondents who continued to sponsor other AA members throughout the follow‐up period, 91% were in remission at the time of survey.